The point is not that seven years old Amina was the lone casualty in Iran’s massive aerial attack on Israel during which it fired fired 170 drones, 30 plus cruise missiles and 120 ballistic missiles, out of which 99 percent of projectiles were intercepted.  . Rather the point is that even the lone casualty could have escaped unscathed were systemic inequalities not ubiquitous in Israel, and around three lakh Arab Bedouins who live in Negev desert also had access to bomb shelters. But that is a charge that the Jewish state might only be too happy to accept.

Nobody is ready to own up to Amina’s death now. Iran has washed its hands off arguing that the barrage was only meant to demonstrate Iran’s eagerness and readiness to join issues with Israel and the Big Satan America. They would not have informed Turkey and sought America’s permission if killing of even one person had been the aim. “Malarkey”, says the US, “we did not know”. But who takes America’s words seriously?

Hell, people even in remotest corners of the world had been made aware of Iran’s forthcoming attack. Israelis had not sent their kids to schools. All flights supposed to fly to and from Middle East had been cancelled. The date and time of impending attack had become so well known that bears desisted from placing puts because commonly expected events don’t set the market back by virtue of their predictability, hence potential manageability. Iranian Mullahs promised to bomb Israel back into Middles Ages when asked for their reaction on Amina’a death.

Iron Dome operators have been busy congratulating themselves on a job well done. Ninety percent is the Dome’s expected success rate, and how well did it deliver. Israel doesn’t know whether to grieve or to celebrate. The country has suffered a lot since October 7th. When Bibi was asked about Amina’s death, he swore to bomb Iran back into the Middle Ages. This seems to be the commonly accepted Middle-Eastern lingo that works. Americans smoke ’em out, Russian administer poison, whereas India sends ‘unknown men’. To be honest, Biden was asked about Amina by no one, yet he ended up apologizing for forgetting which war was being discussed, and what is the number of the current year. Trump thumped his desk and shrieked that she’d have been alive if Biden had not stolen the previous election. “Is he referring to Queen Elizabeth?”, Biden woke up and asked.

Meanwhile, Arab Street in the Middle East has reconciled itself to the unfortunate death of Amina. Too many men, women and children have died over the past few decades. Nothing changes with the recent wars and killings. The show must go on, and it shall. Wokes in the US are super excited. They have a child casualty to parade and point out. Indian Left- liberals and wannabe wokes are over the moon. They have something new to blame Israel for, not that they care much about Shia’ite Iran either. These low lives have been holding candlelight marches in solidarity, raising friendly hostile slogans against the Zion, and sinking their pain in fine wine soirees.

Amina’s death has worked magic in that it has helped Iran score a pyrrhic victory despite losing three generals and four other key military operatives in the Damascus Embassy bombing by Israel. Iran has actually handled the situation as maturely as Pakistan had done after India’s Balakot aerial strikes, or Iran’s missile attack in Baluchistan. Now the whole world expects Bibi to behave like Manmohan Singh did in 2008 when despite the 26/11 provocation, the latter had refused to indulge in warmongering or revenge-seeking. Gandhi would have been so proud of Bibi, Manmohan and the Iranian mullahs.

Now Iran seems to be in a hurry to close down proceedings. “Our revenge is done”, the mullahs have thundered, “unless the Zion escalates”. Whatever happened to the perennial bravado of undoing its existence! Basically, millions of Rial were burnt by Iran just to give Israelis some defence practice, and demonstrate to the world that US, UK, Saudi Arabia and Jordan stand firmly in Israel’s corner.

One can conclude from the tomfoolery of the past week that Iran itches to be considered an aggressor as it boosts its national ego. Also its role as the regional disruptor which arms Hamas, Hezbolla and Houthis and hijacks merchant ships for blatantly racial reasons and with impunity has been recognized. Israel can play a victim if need be for it seeks the easier goal of survival. . Saudi and Jordan now seem assured enough to call out Iran’s pretensions of leadership, and the falsehood of pan-Islamic unity against the Zionist foe. UK has realized that when push comes to shove the poodle has no choice but to follow the master. Joe Biden is a lame duck President since Day one, but now even the United States seems like a lame duck honest broker of Middle Eastern affairs.

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